Easy Air Fryer Katsu Chicken Sandwich
This Air Fryer Katsu Chicken Sandwich is a delicious spin on a traditional Japanese food. This chicken tender Katsu sandwich is super easy to make! Our air fryer katsu chicken sandwich is an easy way to enjoy a deliciously sweet and crunchy chicken sandwich at home with ingredients you already have in the kitchen.
Air Fryer Katsu Chicken Sandwich
Let me tell you the most at-home dinner request is Chicken Katsu. Whether it be chicken breasts, chicken thighs or chicken tenders.
So I got to thinking about how could I make this Katsu different but still delicious! This Chicken Katsu Sandwich recipe is super easy to make and everyone will be wanting more.
If you want more Chicken Katsu recipes check out this Air Fryer Chicken Katsu Chicken Thighs and this Air Fryer Katsu Chicken Breast Recipe.
What does Katsu mean?
In Japanese culture, “Katsu” refers to a cutlet of meat that is coated with panko breadcrumbs and then fried. In addition to chicken katsu, you can also make pork or seafood katsu. This recipe is also called chicken katsu sando. Katsu, or “kasturetsu”, which means cutlet; “sando” is the Japanese term for a sandwich.
If you go to a Japanese restaurant you will most likely see some type of Katsu recipe on the menu since it’s popular in Japanese cuisine.
This iconic Japanese comfort food is loved all around the world—so whether you’re in New York City, Australia, or just home, it’s easy to find restaurants that serve this cutlet sandwich.
In Western Culture, we refer to the traditional Japanese sauce that is served with Katsu as “Katsu sauce.” Katsu sauce is a sweet and tangy sauce, similar to a barbecue sauce.
Katsu sauce is traditionally called Tonkatsu sauce. These two names may be used interchangeably depending on where you read or hear them.
Katsu Chicken Sandwich Ingredients
For the chicken
- Chicken Tenders
- Egg
- Milk
- Panko breadcrumbs (or Japanese breadcrumbs)
- Seasonings: salt and black pepper
- Hamburger buns (soft white bread or Japanese milk bread also works!)
Additional things you might need:
- Wire rack
- Paper towel (for drying)
- Large plate (for plating)
- Separate bowls for coating the chicken’s batter
- Chopping board or cutting board
- Rolling pin (for flattening the slices of bread and/or the chicken)
For the Katsu sauce
- Ketchup
- Worcestershire sauce
- Soy Sauce
- Sugar
- Garlic (or garlic powder)
Tips & Tricks
To ensure that the chicken stays moist, check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer. Once they reach 165F, remove them from the air fryer. Don’t overcook.
Tools to make this recipe
- Cosori Air Fryer – this is my favorite air fryer. The large air fryer basket makes it so easy to cook your favorite recipes
- Tongs – tongs are easiest to remove and flip the chicken
- Meat thermometer – You always want to make sure the internal temperature of ANY chicken 165F.
How to make an Air Fryer Katsu Chicken Sandwich
- In one mixing bowl, add the egg and milk and whisk.
- In another mixing bowl, add the panko bread crumbs, salt, and black pepper.
- Submerge the chicken into the beaten egg and flour mix, then transfer to the panko bread crumbs. Make sure you coat both sides.
- Transfer the chicken breast to the Air Fryer in a single layer and spray the top with avocado oil.
- Cook at 390F oil temperature for 9 minutes.
- Once the timer goes off, flip the chicken and spray the top with avocado oil. Place back inside the Air Fryer and cook for another 9 minutes.
- Remove from the air fryer and transfer to a plate.
- Pour your katsu sauce on top of the chicken. Place hot chicken on the hamburger buns
- Serve and enjoy!
How to make homemade Tonkatsu Sauce (KATSU SAUCE)
- Add all of the ingredients to a small mixing bowl and mix together with a whisk.
How to make Katsu Chicken in the oven
- Preheat oven to 400F
- In a shallow bowl, add the egg and milk and whisk.
- In another mixing bowl, add the panko bread crumbs, salt, and black pepper.
- Submerge the chicken in the egg wash, then transfer it to the panko breadcrumbs. Make sure you coat both sides.
- Transfer the chicken breast to a cooking sheet and spray the top with avocado oil.
- Cook for 20-22 minutes, flipping halfway through.
- Remove from the oven once the chicken is golden brown. For best results, let the chicken rest for 3-5 minutes before cutting.
- Pour the katsu sauce over the top.
- Serve with hamburger buns and enjoy!
Substitutions
Here are many alternatives for chicken katsu sandwiches:
- If you don’t have chicken tenders, you can take a boneless, skinless chicken breast and cut it up into chicken strips.
- If you don’t have Panko crumbs, you can use Italian bread crumbs or regular bread crumbs. The chicken just won’t come out light and crispy. You can also use a store-bought Katsu sauce if you don’t want to make your own.
- If you eat pork, you could even use pork cutlets or pork chops, but on this blog, we love to make juicy chicken recipes.
- As for the cooking spray, I tend to only use avocado oil. I have this spray bottle where you just add your own avocado oil. That way, there are no additives. Just plain avocado oil.
What to serve with an Air Fryer Katsu Chicken Sandwich
My favorite thing to serve chicken katsu with is white rice, and to top it with homemade katsu sauce. It’s also traditionally paired with shredded cabbage.
If you make extra katsu chicken, you can also serve it over a salad.
You can also spread kewpie mayo (hot sauce or spicy mayo works just fine too!) for that elevated savory flavor. Additionally, sprinkle sesame seeds as a garnish for the extra crunch.
How to store
- Store leftovers in an airtight glass container for up to 5 days.
How to reheat
Remove the lid from the container and microwave on high for 1 to 1.5 minutes or until the chicken is warm. Alternatively, you can transfer to a microwave-safe plate to warm up.
If you want to warm this up in your air fryer, cook it for 2-3 minutes at 400F.
FAQs
Does panko work in air fryer?
Yes, Panko works perfectly in the air fryer. Panko is widely used in most Japanese cooking.
Is chicken katsu the same as fried chicken?
Chicken katsu is Japanese-style fried chicken. This is their chicken cutlet with crispy panko sandwich recipe.
More Sandwich recipes to enjoy
More Air Fryer Chicken Tender Recipes
If you loved this air fryer chicken Katsu sandwich, check out these other delicious air fryer chicken tender recipes.
- Easy Air Fryer Honey BBQ Chicken Tenders
- Easy Air Fryer Chicken Tenders With Flour
- Easy Air Fryer Keto Chicken Tenders
- Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Chicken Tenders
- Easy Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Tenders
Air Fryer Katsu Chicken Sandwich
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
For the chicken
- 4 pieces Chicken tenders
- 1 Egg Large
- 1 tbsp Milk
- ½ tsp Salt
- ¼ tsp Black pepper
- 1 cup Panko bread crumbs
For the sauce
- 1 tbsp Ketchup
- 1/2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp Soy sauce
- 2 tsp Sugar
- 1 clove Garlic Minced
Instructions
- In one mixing bowl add the egg and milk and whisk.
- In another mixing bowl add the panko bread crumbs, salt, and black pepper.
- Submerge the chicken into the beaten egg mixture then transfer to the panko bread crumbs. Make sure you coat both sides.
- Transfer the chicken breast to Air Fryer in a single layer and spray the top with avocado oil.
- Cook at 390F for 9 minutes.
- Once the timer goes off, flip the chicken and spray the top with avocado oil. Place back inside the Air Fryer and cook for another 9 minutes.
- Remove from the air fryer and transfer to a plate.
- Pour your katsu sauce on top of the chicken. Place chicken on the hamburger buns
- Serve and enjoy!
Nutrition
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